Below you will find many answers to the questions you may have whilst preparing for a mentor led expedition. If we have not covered your question, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.

How do I know if this is suitable for my students?

We offer free educational’s to all student mentors. That means you can come to South Africa and work with us during our programs and see for yourself if the training we offer is beneficial for your students. Alternatively, the work of our individual interns is shown readily on our site, you can use this as testimonials to the training skills we impart onto students participating in our programs.

AS a mentor, what will it cost me?

Mentors who bring groups of 4 or more students can travel with the students for free, excluding international transfers. Africa Media will sponsor a mentors accommodation (single room), catering, local travel and entry into reserves.

When can I bring my student group and for how long?

We are flexible with when you can bring your students on a mentor expedition, as well as the duration that you would like to bring them. The only limitations are

(a) that we can host two mentor led expeditions at a time, and

(b) that the expedition falls between Jan 15 and May 30th.

What does the expeditions cost for students?

We have a teared pricing system that consists of

0 – 6N: 140USD per night

7 – 21N: 120USD per night

>22N: 80USD per night

The price includes the following:

Dorm style accommodation

Meals

Local transport

Entry and access to reserves and sanctuaries.

All tuition and experiential learning

Use of programs equipment and facilities

Internet

The fee excludes the following:

International transport to and from George airport

Medical and travel insurance

Laundry

What is the daily work?

The daily work is variable due to offering mentors the option to customise an expedition. We will work out a suitable schedule. However, during your teams time on the ground, we will maximize on ‘content creation’ in the field. A majority of post production can be done back at university.

For how long is the expedition?

This is entirely up to you and your students. We have hosted student groups for as little as three nights and for as long as two months.

Who owns the media the students collect

All media (video and audio) collected by you will belong to the students. However, the following licensing conditions on collected materials is required:

Africa Media retains total right to use the media for any non-exclusive purpose whatsoever free of charge and without requiring permission or paying compensation to the student (this includes the sale of footage). This further means that the student may only license any collected footage for non-exclusive rights to a third party.

Do I, or my students, require a VISA?

No. You, and your students, will not be employed by Africa Media nor paid. On this expedition you are entitled to enter on a temporary visitors permit (e.g. tourism permit). Tourist visiting visas are usually issued for three months/90 days upon entry in South Africa. However, we do recommend that you contact the South African Embassy or Consulate in your country and confirm this fact for your specific nationality. If your application period is for a period longer than three months, or if you plan to travel in South Africa prior or after the course for a period extending 90 days, you will have to apply for a Volunteer VISA application through your home embassy.

Do students need to bring my own video equipment or gear?

Africa Media provides all photographic and video production equipment on the expedition. Students, are however, welcome to bring their own personal photographic or video cameras if they choose. Editing and post-production computers are not provided by Africa Media, and if this is part of the program, students should travel with a laptop computer.

What equipment do students have access to?

Video Cameras available:

6 x Panasonic HVX-200P series P2

7 x GoPro cameras (effects camera)

2 x Phantom 4 drone

DSLR Cameras available

6 x Nikon and/or canon DSLR camera bodies

30 x lens

Audio Equipment available:

6 x RODE shotgun mics (camera or boom mounted)

3 x Sennheiser and sony lavallière radio mic systems

1 x Tascam digital audio recorder

1 x Rode DSLR mounted shotgun mic

1 x Soundproof audio recording suite

Accessories available:

12 x video and dslr camera tripods

6 x video ‘throw bags’

1 x video camera crane

3 x reflectors

1 x radio control ‘cub cam’ filming vehicle

1 x camera slider (tracking shots)

Computers: Please bring your own laptop if you have one. It must be pre-loaded with Adobe Premiere Pro CC2015 or CS6 as we use this extensively on the course. We do have three computers to use if it is impossible for you to bring your own computer.

Where do I stay?

Mentors will stay at Fly me to the moon guesthouse when not on a reserve. Students have dorm style apartments in standalone cottages next to the guesthouse. This is located in Mossel Bay, South Africa

Where must students fly to?

Travel arrangements must be made from your home town to George Airport, South Africa. We will pick you up and drop you off from George Airport.

Do students need insurance?

Yes. When you are joining an expedition, students will have to sign liability, copyright documents, as well an agreement that you are knowingly partaking in potentially dangerous activities. Students will not be covered for accidents or illnesses, so please they must organize their own medical and health insurances. Students may apply for a normal travel insurance policy. Chances that they will be injured by a predator are very slim if you follow the safety guidelines, and do not try anything foolish of which we would not approve. However, students will be filming and photographing on wildlife reserves which can result in accidents. So it is important to be covered in case of an emergency or accident.

What clothing do I, and my students, need to bring?

For the field work in the reserve, some tough jeans or khaki pants, tough and warm tops (neutral colors) and outdoor shoes/boots are required. Good waterproof clothing; factor 30+ sun block and a wide brim hat; sunglasses. You may bring toiletries, or buy them when you get here.

Do we need malaria, or other, medication?

No, in Mossel Bay we are far from Malaria areas, and there are no strange African diseases which you could pick up (that is if you respect the same safety rules as anywhere else in the world). Should part of the expedition involve traveling to Mozambique for underwater photography, then Malaria prophylactics will be required.

About us

Africa Media is a environmental and wildlife media company based on Southern Africa. We specialize in creation of photographic, video, written media for a range of clients including broadcasters, corporations, non-governmental organizations, print media and online news. Our strength lies in the unique access we have to numerous terrestrial and aquatic production platforms and stories throughout Africa.